Novel’s story of brutal attack has parallels in today’s world

A new play inspired by an acclaimed work of French literature – L’Etranger by Albert Camus – is set for its world premiere in Doncaster tomorrow.

The play provides a new perspective on the famous novel exploring the consequences following the shooting of an unnamed man on a beach by an emotionally isolated French Algerian, and the resulting impact on the lives of the two women most closely connected to the killer and the victim.

The show has been created by York-based theatre company Pilot.

Artistic director Marcus Romer said: “I have always wanted the company to create a piece of work inspired by Camus’ novel.

“Like many people my age, I came across it after hearing the famous track by The Cure that focused on the brutality and seemingly random nature of the attack.

“I feel that the world we now find ourselves in has increasing parallels with the dislocation and division that the novel touches upon, which is why we approached the writer Emteaz Hussain to help us to shape this new piece inspired by the original text.

“The contemporary parallels are always key for us here at Pilot, and the drafts of the play we received were punctuated by the backdrop of real events unfolding in Europe, that highlighted divisions, separation, isolation and above all the concept of what it is to be an outsider.”

The characters of Marie and Sumaya are played by Lou Broadbent and Sara Sadeghi.

The show runs from tomorrow to Saturday, then calls at Barnsley Civic on October 7.